Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: 550 school buildings to come up with state funds

The UP government has ordered that nearly 550 primary and upper primary school buildings which were to be constructed with central funds under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (Education for All project) in the state be completed with state funds.

Chief secretary Alok Ranjan gave these orders on Wednesday while reviewing the status of various projects from the primary, secondary, higher, technical and vocational education departments. Under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA), the centre and the state government jointly share the financial responsibilities under various heads. A senior official said that the centre’s share was successively dipping since 2007-8 when the BSP government was in power in Uttar Pradesh.

The centre-state funding pattern was 65:35 in 2007-8 and 2008-9. The ratio became 60:40 in 2009-10 and 55:45 in 2010-11. It has been 50:50 ever since.

“What is more worrying is the fact that the funds are generally delayed. The delay has led to various problems,” an official said.

Probably, that is why the chief secretary has ordered that the buildings be completed through the state share in case the centre funds aren’t received on time.

Another 20 polytechnic buildings too are awaiting completion.

During the Wednesday’s review of the project-status in the educational sector, Ranjan explained that 6,000 students were to be imparted skill-based technical training in these polytechnic campuses.

A senior official of the vocational education department said that chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was personally pushing for arming the youths with some “sort of skill which would help get them gainful employment.”

The government has already launched a skill development mission for the purpose. Under this, five lakh youths are to be given skill training, which is to be extended to health education sector.

THE CENTRE-STATE FUNDING PATTERN WAS 65:35 IN 2007-8 AND 2008-9.